当前位置：新闻动态
Shipping industry calls on G20 leaders to allow merchant ships to call at ports
来源： 编辑：编辑部 发布：2020/04/01 14:13:11
SHIPS and their crews must be able to trade freely with minimal port restrictions to ensure supply lines don't collapse while the coronavirus places many major cities around the globe under lockdown.
The call to the Group of 20 major economies was made jointly by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)and the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH). It comes as ships are being quarantined for up to two weeks and seafarers held up as many countries worldwide impose lockdowns to stop the spread of the virus.
"Ensuring that seafarers can travel without undue restriction will be key to maintaining the flow of food, medicine and key commodities to those countries that need it most," said ICS secretary general Guy Platten, urging crews to be classed as key workers, reported Reuters.
IAPH managing director Patrick Verhoeven said governments had to do "everything possible to allow transport of goods in and out of ports".
Italy faces the biggest risks with the shipment of goods, shipping officials say, with the death rate from the coronavirus in the county now exceeding that in China.
"As Italy is considered a main area of concern in the world?it makes it even more challenging for the shipping companies to carry on trade and be the lifeline needed for supplies for Italy," president Stefano Messina of Italy's shipping association Assarmatori told Reuters.
The call to the Group of 20 major economies was made jointly by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)and the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH). It comes as ships are being quarantined for up to two weeks and seafarers held up as many countries worldwide impose lockdowns to stop the spread of the virus.
"Ensuring that seafarers can travel without undue restriction will be key to maintaining the flow of food, medicine and key commodities to those countries that need it most," said ICS secretary general Guy Platten, urging crews to be classed as key workers, reported Reuters.
IAPH managing director Patrick Verhoeven said governments had to do "everything possible to allow transport of goods in and out of ports".
Italy faces the biggest risks with the shipment of goods, shipping officials say, with the death rate from the coronavirus in the county now exceeding that in China.
"As Italy is considered a main area of concern in the world?it makes it even more challenging for the shipping companies to carry on trade and be the lifeline needed for supplies for Italy," president Stefano Messina of Italy's shipping association Assarmatori told Reuters.